Electric switch comprising movable contact on pivotable trough-shaped support



p 3, 1963 H. G. BAUER 3,102,939

' ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING MOVABLE CONTACT ON PIVOTABLE TROUGH-SHAPED SUPPORT Filed Oct. 26, 1960 3 102 39 ELECTRIC swrrcn CMPRISlNG MOVABLE CON- ;AC N PIVOTABLE THOUGH-SHAPED SUP- 0R Howard G. Bauer, Corinth, Miss, assignor to The Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, llL, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 26, 1960, Ser- No. 65,077 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-166) This invention relates generally to electronic musical instruments and especially to the key-operated switches used in electronic musical instruments In one specific (aspect, the present invention relates to a bus arrangement employed in the key-operated switches of an electronic organ;

Among the vast array of musical instruments which are known and used, organs are characterized by their ability simultaneously to produce a number of tones in response to the operation of a single key, the number and nature of the individual tones being dependent upon which of the organ stops have been actuated. In electronic organs, each key is arranged to' operate a plurality of switches; and organ stops are connected to these switches in such a manner as to condition preselected switches of each key' group for conduction when the corresponding key is depressed. Specifically, the organ stops are commonly arranged to relocate a number of bus arrangements so that depression of the organ key permits actuation of the switch contacts to make selected connections with the individual bus arrangements for creation of the desired tones.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved switch for electronic musical instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel bus arrangement for use in the key-operated switches of an electronic musical instrument.

Other objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure, materials and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

A structure in accord with the invention includes an insulating support, a contact element secured to the support, an insulating member connected. to the contact element away from the support for directing movement of the contact element in a predetermined path, rotatable bus means disposed adjacent the contact element, the bus means including insulating channel means and an elongated conductive member affixed to a free lateral edge of the channel means, and means for rotating the bus means to move the conductive member relative to the path of movement of the contact element.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof, where- FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an electronic organ key and its associated switches and organ stops with certain portions only partially shown, the several elements being constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged, end elevational view of the mounting plate and bus arrangements used in the switches of FIG. 1, the view being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, front elevational view of part of the showing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of a bus arrangement used in the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 4 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the bus arrangement; and

United States Patent 0 3,102,939 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 2 FIG. 6- is an enlarged view taken through the section 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, particularly to FIG. 1, there will be seen an organ key (10 which constitutes part of a conventional organ keyboard, not shown. Directly beneath the key 10, an insulating support block 12 is fixedly mounted to the organ structure; and a plurality of Whisker-type wire contact elements 14 are secured to the support block 12 in outwardly extending relationship. An actuating member '16 of insulating material, such as vulcanized iibre or a suitable resinous plastic, is dependin-gly afiixed to the key 10 by means of an upstanding, integral portion 18 of reduced section, a rubber cap or bumper 20 and a screw 22 which passes threadedly through the key adjacent its inner end. The wire contact elements 14- pass through appropriately disposed apertures in the actuator 16, actuator 16 being spaced from the support block 12 in order to direct movement of the contact elements in a predetermined path that is associated with depression and release of the organ key 10.

Each of the wire contact elements 14 comprises a part of a switch arrangement. The cantilevered, free ends of the contact elements 14 are arranged to engage, individually, a corresponding bus arrangement 24-; and the several bus arrangements '24 are supported for rotation by a guide or support plate 26. The support or guide plate 26 is advantageously fiashioned from a suitable insulating material; and turning for the moment to FIG. 2, the plate 26 will be seen provided with a vertical seriesof trianguloid openings 28. A bus arrangement 24 is supportingly received in each of the openings 28, resting on the bottom edge of the opening, as shown, and otherwise passing-fireely through the opening.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and considering lalso FIG. 3, there will be seen a number of stop tablets 30 which are associated with one of the keyboards of the organ. Each of the stop tablets 30 corresponds to a given organ stop such as horn, trumpet, flute or piccolo. At the remote end of each of the stop tablets 30, there is afiixed a generally outwardly extending arm 32; and to the end of each arm 32 there is affixed an actuating bar 34 which depends in substantially vertical position. i As is shown in FIG. 3, the otherwise free end of each of the bars 34 is eccentri-cally pivotally connected to a bus arrangement 2 by means of a pin or abbreviated rod '36.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the bus arrangement 24 includes a generally V shaped channel element 38 and an elongated, conductive member 40 alfixed to a free lateral edge of the channel element 3 8. Member 40 is desirably fabricated from contact metal. With specific reference to FIGS. 2. and 4, the channel element 38 will be seen comprised of a pair of elongated strips 42 and 4-4 which are disposed at an angle, preferably an acute angle, relative to each other, the strips 42 and 44 being interconnected at the apex 46 of the angle. An electrically insulating sleeve 48 passes over the 0ppo'site, free lateral edge of channel element 38 forming a hook '50. The sleeve 48 also passes about the apex 46 i so as to receive fittingly the channel element 38. Sleeve 4-8 is advantageously fashioned from a suitable resinous plastic material, such as the plastic materials based on vinyl resins. p

The strips 42 and 4-4 which comprise the channel element 38 may take the form of strips of steel which are integrally united to form the channel element. In such instance, the conductive member 40 and the rod 36 are advantageously secured in place by longitudinally spaced weldments 51 shown in FIG. 2.

It will become apparent that the shape of channel element 38 is permissive of situating an insulated conductor in the trough of the channel, as for example the insulated cable 52 shown in FIG. 4. The cable 52 may be employed for making desired connections to sequential 7 is capable of taking a number of rotational positions. In

the uppermost of the three arrangements illustrated in FIG. 2, the contact element 14 will be seen urged into electrically conductive relationship with the conductive member 40, Whereas in the middle of the three arrangemerits, the bus arrangement 24 will be seen rotated so that the contact element 14 touches and makes contact with the conductive member 40 somewhat in advance of the making of contact in the uppermost arrangement. In the lowermost arrangement, the element it is shown making contact with the hook portion Sil of the insulating sleeve 48 whereby conductive contact with the member 40 is precluded. These several arrangements correspond with desired positions for the switch as directed by the operation of stop tablets 30.

. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. For example, a modified bus arrangement 24a is illustrated in FIGS. Sand 6. There, like numerals have been used to designate like parts,.the suffix letter a being applied to distinguish those elements associatedwith the embodiment of FIGS. Sand 6. Y

The bus arrangement 24a specifically comprises .a channel element 38a fashioned from a thick grade of vulcanized fibre, and a conductive member Mia is amxed to a free lateral edge of the channel element by means of staples 54. In similar manner, the pin 36a is secured in the trough of channel element 3311 by means of staples 56. Staples 54- and 56 are spaced at suitable intervals along the channel element 38a, being adapted to pass through and grip the walls of the channel element. As is particularly well shown in FIG. 6, one lateral edge of channel element 38a is provid-edwith an elongated notch 58 for use in securing the conductive member 40a in proper 7 position.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is particularly advantageous in that the conductive member 40a maybe thereby readily provided in segmented form whereby to apply different voltages and therefore different emphases:

to various parts of the organ keyboard.

The specific examplesherein shown and described are illustrative only. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

. 1. In a keyswitch -arrangement for electronic musical instruments, the combination comprising insulating support means, a contact element extending therefrom, a key interconnected with said contact element for deflecting said element in a given direction, a bus bar disposed transversely of said contact element and spaced therefrom in said given direction, said bus bar being a V-shaped trough and having the open side thereof disposed toward said contact element with two edges of said bus bar confronting said contact element, means mounting said bus bar 'for rocking movement substantially about its own axis, said mounting: means having limit means providing limits for such rocking respectively with one of said edges disposed closer than the other to, said contact elementior engagement thereby and vice versa, and means connected to said bus bar for eflecting such rocking, one ofsaid edges being conductive and the other being non-conductive.

2. The combination set. forth in claim 1 wherein the bus bar is made of insulating material and has a conductor aflixed to one edge. I

3. The combination set ffOltl'l'lIl claim 1 wherein the a nonconductive cover over one edge.

4. The combination set forth in claim cover embraces said one edge and the apex of said V- shaped trough.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 wherein the Schneebenger July 21, 1959 i 

1. IN A KEYSWITCH ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING INSULATING SUPPORT MEANS, A CONTACT ELEMENT EXTENDING THEREFROM, A KEY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID CONTACT ELEMENT FOR DEFLECTING SAID ELEMENT IN A GIVEN DIRECTION, A BUS BAR DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CONTACT ELEMENT AND SPACED THEREFROM IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION, SAID BUS BAR BEING A V-SHAPED TROUGH AND HAVING THE OPEN SIDE THEREOF DISPOSED TOWARD SAID CONTACT ELEMENT WITH TWO EDGES OF SAID BUS BAR CONFRONTING SAID CONTACT ELEMENT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID BUS BAR FOR ROCKING MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS HAVING LIMIT MEANS PROVIDING LIMITS FOR SUCH ROCKING RESPECTIVELY WITH ONE OF SAID EDGES DISPOSED CLOSER THAN THE OTHER TO SAID CONTACT ELEMENT FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREBY AND VICE VERSA, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BUS BAR FOR EFFECTING SUCH ROCKING, ONE OF SAID EDGES BEING CONDUCTIVE AND THE OTHER BEING NON-CONDUCTIVE. 